EXCHANGE 


SCHOOL  LAW  SUPPLEMENT 


GIVING  THE 


LAWS  RELATING  TO 
COMMON  SCHOOLS 

AS  ENACTED  AND  AMENDED  BY  THE 

LEGISLATURE    OF    1QO3. 


COMPILED   BY 

C.  P.  GARY, 

STATE  SUPERINTENDENT. 


THE 

f   UNIVERSITY   ) 


MADISON,  WIS. 

DEMOCRAT  PRINTING  Co.,  STATE  PRINTER. 
1903. 


SCHOOL  LAW  SUPPLEMENT. 


OFFICE  OF  STATE  SUPERINTENDENT. 

MADISON,  Wis.,  July  20,  1903. 
To  School  District  Clerks: 

Tliis  pamphlet  gives  the  lawts  relating  to  the  schools  of  this 
state  as  enacted  by  the  legislature  of  1903.  They  are  furnished, 
in  this  form,  in  order  that  they  may  be  easily  pjasted.into  the 
copy  of  the  School  Code  in  your  possession.  I  trust  that  the 
comments  placed  in  connection  with  the  different  chapters  may 
be  helpful  in  showing  what  changes  were  made  in  the  laws 
as  they  previously  existed  and  what  the  requirements  now  are. 
It  is  probably  true  that  very  many  of  the  educational  laws  of 
1903  do  not  apply  to  your  district,  but  it  will  be  well  for  you, 
immediately  upon  receipt  of  this  pamphlet,  to  look  it  through 
and  to  study  such  chapters  and  the  comments  made  thereon 
as  from  their  title  may  appear  to  apply  to  your  district.  If 
any  interpretation  is  needed  at  any  time,  you  may  rest  assured 
I  shall  be  very  glad  indeed  to  answer  any  inquiries  you  may 
make.  This  supplement  with  the  School  Code  in  your  office 
should  be  placed  in  the  hands  of  your  successor,  at  the  expira- 
tion of  your  term. 

Assuring  you  of  my  hearty  cooperation  at  all  times,  I  am, 
Very  truly  yours, 


State  Superintendent 


380087 


Wisconsin  School  Laws  of  1903* 


Second  grade  certificates.  (Chapter  5,  Laws  of  1903,  amend- 
ing Chapter  439,  Laws  of  1901.)  SECTION  450.  Every  ap- 
plicant for  a  certificate  shall  be  examined  in  the  subjects  here- 
inafter mentioned,  for  the  several  grades  respectively  as  fol- 
lows :  For  the  third  grade,  in  orthoepy,  orthography,  read- 
ing, penmanship,  arithmetic,  English  grammar,  geography,  the 
history  of  the  United  States,  the  constitution  of  the  United 
States,  the  constitution  of  the  state  of  Wisconsin,  physiology 
and  hygiene  with  special  reference  to  the  effects  of  stimulants 
and  narcotics  upon  the  human  system,  the  theory  and  art  of 
teaching,  and  after  January  1st,  1902,  in  the  "Manual  of  the 
Elementary  Course  of  Study  for  the  Common  Schools  of  Wis- 
consin/7 and  in  the  elements  of  agriculture;  for  the  second 
grade  in  all  the  foregoing  and  also  in  algebra,  physical  geog- 
raphy, and  after  July  1st,  1902,  in  American  literature  and 
English  composition;  for  the  first  grade  in  all  the  foregoing 
and  also  in  physics  and  plane  geometry,  and  after  July  1st, 
1902,  in  English  literature  and  English  history.  If  found 
qualified  said  applicant  shall  receive  the  certificate  appropri- 
ate to  his  grade.  A  third  grade  certificate  shall  entitle  the 
holder  to  teach  for  such  period  not  more  than  cne  year  as  may 
be  specified  therein,  in  any  town  in  the  superintendent  district 
in  which  he  is  examined,  except  that  it  may  be  limited  by  the 
county  superintendent  to  one  town  or  school  district  therein. 
A  second  gTade  certificate  shall  entitle  the  holder  to  teach  in 
any  town  in  such  superintendent  district  and  be  in  force  three 
years  from  its  date,  but  the  county  superintendent  may  limit 
the  same  to  one  year  and  remove  the  limitation  upon  satisfac- 
tory evidence  that  the  holder  has  successfully  taught  a  public 
school  in  this  state  for  at  least  six  months. 

A  first  £Tade  certificate  shall  entitle  the  holder  to  teach  in 
any  town  in  such  superintendent  district  and  be  in  force  five 
years  from  its  date;  provided,  that  no  such  certificate  shall  be 


WISCONSIN    SCHOOL   LAWS    OF    1903. 

(1  to  ;i:iy  person  who  has  net  taught  successfully  for  one 
School  year  in  the  public  schools  <:f  Wisconsin.  Whenever  a 

!i  lias  taught  successfully  f<,r  cue  year  on  suclr  a  limited 
iirs  t.  grade1  cert  'ideate,  the  county  superintendent  shall,  upon  the 

ntation  of  satisfactory  evidence  of  such  successful  teach- 
ing, issue  to  the  holder  of  the  limited  certificate  a  iirst  grade 
certificate  good  for  five  years  from  the  date  of  issue  of  tin1  lim- 
ited certificate. 

Tlie  slight  change  in  this  law  authorizes  the  county  super- 
intendent to  limit  a  second  grade  certificate  for  one  year  only 
when  issued  to  a  person  who  has  not  already  taught  sucee^fully. 
This  limitation  may  be  removed  after  such  person  has  taught 
successfully  for  at  least  six  months. 


Certification  of  manual  training  and  domestic  science  teachers. 

(Chapter  (J4-.)  SECTION  1.  A  diploma  granted  by  the  board 
of  regents  of  normal  schools  to  any  person  who  completes  the 
training  course  for  teachers  of  manual  training  or  of  domestic 
science,  established  by  said  board  in  any  of  the  state  normal 
schools,  shall  be  regarded  as  a  certificate  legally  qualifying  the 
holder  thereof  to  teach  manual' train  ing  and  domestic  science 
respectively  for  one  year  in,  any  school  forming  a  part  of  the 
public  school  system.  The  state  superintendent  may,  after 
such  examination  as  to  moral  character,  learning  and  ability 
to  teach,  as  to  him  may  seem  proper,  countersign  such  diploma 
if,  since  receiving  it,  the  holder  has  taught  manual  training  or 
domestic  science  in  a  public  school  in.  this  state  one  year,  and 
thereafter  such  countersigned  diploma  shall  qualify  the  holder 
as  a  teacher  of  manual  training  or  domestic  science  as  ihe  case 
may  be,  until  the  same  shall  be  annulled. 

Other  diplomas;  special  license.  SECTION  2.  The  holder  of 
a  diploma  granted  by  any  manual  training  school  or  school  of 
domestic  science,  upon  the  completion  of  a  1  raining  course  for 
teachers  in  either  subject  fully  and  fairly  equivalent  to  the 
course  of  instruction  for  teachers  in  the  same  >ubjeets  pre- 
s'cribel  by  the  board  of  regent-  of  normal  schools,  may  rm-.-cul 
such  diploma,  together  with  the  evidence  of  the  required  stand- 
ing of  the  training  school  issuing  such  diploma,  to  the  state 
board  of  examiners.  The  applicant,  shall  furnish  therewith 
testimonials  of  good  moral  character  and  of  two  years'  success- 


WISCONSIN    SCHOOL   LAWS    OF   1903.  7 

fnl  teaching  of  manual  1  raining1  or  domestic  science,  as  the  case 
:iv  be,  in  the  public  schools  of  the  state  after  the  date  of  such 
iploma.  The  holder  of  any  such  diploma,  recommended  fa- 
rably  by  the  board,  shall  be  entitled  to  receive  a  certificate 
sued  by  the  state  superintendent,  qualifying  the  holder  as  a 
teacher  of  manual  training  or  of.  domestic  science,  until  the 
same  shall  bo  annulled.  The  holder  of  a  diploma  granted  upon 
the  completion  of  a  course  of  study,  accredited  as  herein  pro- 
vided, upon  which  a  state  certificate  has  not  been  issued,  upon 
the  recommendation  of  the  board  of  examiners  .made  in  pur- 
suance of  such  examination  as  to  learning,  moral  character 
and  ability  to  teach  as  said  board  may  require,  may  be  given  a 
special  license  by  the  state  superintendent  to  teach  manual  train- 
ing or  domestic  science  as  recommended  by  the  board,  for  two 
years  in  the  public  schools  of  the  state. 


"This  is  a  new  law  passed  for  the  purpose,  of  forming,  a  defi- 
nite basis  from  which  to  judge  the  qualifications  of  persons  em- 
ployed in  this  state  as  special  teachers  of  Manual  Training  and 
of  Domestic  Science.  A  diploma  granted  by  the  normal  schools 
i<>  persons  having  completed  either  of  these  special  courses  qual- 
ifies the  holder  to  teach  for  one  year.  After  a  year  of  suc- 
cessful work  said  diploma  may  be  countersigned  by  the  state 
superintendent,  whereupon  it  has  the  force  and  effect  of  an  un- 
limited state  certificate  for  the  above  special  purposes  only. 
Graduates  from  other  schools  of  Manual  Training  and  of  Do- 
mestic Science  must  send  their  diplomas  to  the  state  superin- 
tendent, Upon  receipt  they  will  be  cared  for  until  the  next 
meeting'  of  the  state  board  of  examiners.  This  board  will  pass 
upon  the  courses  of  study  pursued  in  the  institutions  granting 
sue! i  diplomas  and  if  the  courses  pursued  by  the  applicant  have 
satisfactory,  the  state  board  will  recommend  the  state  su- 
perintendent to  issue  a  special  license.  This  wall  legally 
qualify  the  holder  for  two  years.  At  the  expiration  of  twTo>  years 
of  successful  work  the  diploma  must  again  be  sent  to  this  de- 
partment and  placed  before  the  state  board  of  examiners  with 
evidences  of  success  in* teaching  and  of  moral  character.  If  fa- 


g  WISCONSIN    SCHOOL    LAWS    OF    1903. 

vorably  passed  upon  at  this  time  by  said  board,  the  state  su- 
perintendent is  authorized  to  issue  an  unlimited  certificate 
qualifying  the  holder  to  teach  in  any  Manual  Training  depart- 
ment or  department  of  Domestic  Science  in  this  state.  A.  cata- 
logue showing  the  courses  of  study  pursued  by  the  applicant 
must  be  filed  with  the  diploma  in  each  case  when  applying  for 
special  license. 

Certificates  for  kindergarten  teachers.  (Chapter  69,  Laws  of 
1903,  amending  Chapter  347,  Laws  of  1901.)  SECTION  1. 
The  holder  of  a  diploma  granted  by  any  kindergarten  training 
school  whose  course  of  instruction  is  fully  and  fairly  equiva- 
lent to  the  course  of  instruction  in  kindergarten  training  pre- 
scribed by  the  board  of  regents  of  normal  schools  in  any  of  the 
state  normal  schools,  may  present  such  diploma,  together  with 
evidence  of  the  required  standing  of  the  kindergarten  training 
school  issuing  such  diploma  to  the  state  board  of  examiners. 
The  applicant  shall  furnish  therewith  testimonials  of  good 
moral  character  and  of  two  years'  successful  teaching  in  a  kin- 
dergarten in  Wisconsin  after  the  date  of  such  diploma.  The 
holder  of  any  such  diploma  recommended  favorably  by  the 
board  shall  be  entitled  to  receive  a  certificate  issued  by  the  state 
superintendent  qualifying  the  holder  to  teach  in  any  public 
kindergarten  in  the  state  until  the  same  shall  be  annulled. 
Tne  holder  of  a  diploma  granted  upon  the  completion  of  a 
course  of  study  accredited  as  herein  provided,  upon  which  a 
state  certificate  has  not  been  issued,  upon  the  recommendation 
of  the  board  of  examiners  made  in  pursuance  of  such  examina- 
tion as  to  learning',  moral  character  and  ability  to  teach  as 
said  board  may  require,  may  be  given  a  special  license  by  the 
state  superintendent  to  teach  for  two  years  in  any  public  kin- 
dergarten in  the  state. 

Tlhis  chapter  a,s  amended  permits  recognition  of  diplomas 
from  unincorporated  institutions  as  well  as  those  that  arc  in- 
corporated. 

Day  schools  for  the  deaf;  control  of.  (Chapter  86,  Laws  of 
1903,  amending  Section  578,  Statutes  of  1898.)  SECTION  1. 
Upon  application  by  the  board  of  education  of  any  village  or 
city,  made  to  the  state  superintendent,  he  may,  by  and  with  the 


WISCONbiN    SCHOOL   LAWS    OF    1903.  <j 

consent  of  the  state  board  of  control,  grant  permission  to  such 
city  or  village  to  establish  and  maintain  within  its  corporate 
limits  one  or  more  schools  for  the  instruction  of  deaf  mutes  who 
are  residents  of  this  state.  ,  The  board  of  education  of  any  vil- 
lage or  city  which  shall  maintain  one  or  more  such  schools,  shall, 
through  its  clerk  or  secretary,  report  to  such  superintendent. and 
board  annually,  and  oftener  if  they  so  direct,  such  facts  in  re- 
lation to  such  school  or  schools  as  they  may  require:  There 
shall  be  paid  out  of  the  state,  treasury  annually,  in  the  month 
of  July,  to  the  treasurer  of  every  such  city  or  village  maintain- 
ing such  school  or  schools  under  the  charge  of  one  or  more 
teachers,  whose  qualifications  shall  be  approved  by  the  state  su- 
perintendent, the  sum  of  one  hundred  fifty  dollars  for  each  deaf 
mute  pupil  instructed  in  such  school  or  schools  at  least  nine 
months  during  the  year  next  preceding  the  first  day  of  July, 
and  a  share  of  such  sum  proportionate  to  the  term  of  instruc- 
tion of  any  such  pupil  as  shall  be  so  instructed  less  than  nine 
months  during  such  year. 

This  chapter  takes  the  power  to  organize  day  schools  for  deaf 
mutes  in  villages  and  cities  from  the  common!  council  of  any 
city  or  the  board  of  trustees  of  a  village  and  gives  the  authority 
into  the  hands  of  the  board  of  education  instead. 

Powers  of  school  boards  in  cities  of  the  first  class.  (Chapter 
100,  Laws  of  1903,  amending  Section  7,  Chapter  186,  Laws  of 
1897.)  SECTION  7.  The  board  of  school  directors  of  each 
city  in  which  this  act  shall  be  applicable  is  hereby  authorized 
and  required,  subject  to  the  approval  of  the  common  council, 
-to  establish  and  organize  so  many  public  schools,  in  addition 
to  those  already  established  in  such  city,  as  may  be  necessary 
for  the  accommodation  of  the  children  of  the  city  entitled  by 
the  constitution  and  laws  of  the  state  to  instruction  therein. 
The  common  council  upon  recommendation  and  request  of  the 
said  board  of  school  directors  as  hereinafter  provided,  shall 
erect,  purchase,  hire  or  lease  buildings,  improve  or  enlarge  the 
same,  and  purchase  furniture  and  lots  for  the  accommodation 
of  such  public  schools  of  said  city.  The  selection  of  sites  for 
school  buildings  and  the  adoption  of  plans  for  the  erection  of 
school  buildings  shall  be  determined  by  a  committee  consisting 
of  the  president  of  the  common  council,  the  city  engineer,  the 
superintendent  of  schools,  the  president  of  the  board  of  school 
directors,  and  tho  chairman  of  the  committee  on  buildings  of 


10  WISCONSIN    SCHOOL   LAWS    OF   1903. 

the  said  boarxl  of  school  directors,  who  shall  be  known  as  the 
statutory  committee  on  school  sites  and  plans.     Their  decision 
shall  be  subject  to  the  approval  of  the  said  board  of  school  di- 
rectors.     The  decisions  of  this  committee  in  the  selection  of 
sites  and  of  plans  for  school  buildings,  when,  thus  approved, 
shall  bt  reported  to  the  common  council,  and  shall  not  be  mod- 
ified or  amended  by  the  said  common  council  except  as  to  the 
amount  of  money  appropriated  for  the  execution  of  the  work, 
the  purchase  of  sites  or  the  fulfillment  of  contracts  involved. 
Tlie  school  house's  now  erected  and  the  lots  on  which  they  are 
situated,  and  the  lots  now  or  hereafter  purchased  for  school 
purposes,   and  the  school  houses  thereon  erected  shall  be  the 
property  of  the  city,  and  no  lot  shall  be  purchased  or  leased, 
nor  shall  "any  school  house  be  erected  without  an  ordinance  or 
resolution  duly  passed  by  the  common  council.     Deeds  of  con- 
veyance and  leases  shall  be  made  to<  the  city.     The  said  hen  id 
of  school  directors  shall  also  have  the  powler  to  establish  and 
define  from  time  to  time  the  boundaries  of  all  common  and 
high  school  districts,  in  such  manner  as  they  may  deem  best 
calculated  to  promote  the  interests  of  the  schools.     The  board 
shall  also  have  the  power,  subject  to  the  powers  and  regula- 
tions of  the  city  service  commission,  to  employ  all  janitors  nec- 
essary in  the  school  houses  of  their  city  and  to  fix  their  com- 
pensation; but  the  principal  of  each  school  shall  be  custodian 
of  all  building's  and  rooms  occupied  by  the  school  over  which 
lie  presides,   and  shall  have  the  general  supervision  over  the 
same,   and  shall  direct  the  janitor  thereof  in  relation   to  the. 
keeping  and  care. of  such  buildings  and  rooms. 

This  chapter  applies  to  the  city  of  Milwaukee  only. 

Number  of  school  district  to  be  recorded  and  not  changed 
thereafter.  (Chapter  113,  Laws  of  1903.)  SECTION!.  After 
the  first  day  of  January,  1904,  it  shall  not  be  lawful  for  any 
town  board  of  supervisors  or  any  town  board  of  school  direc- 
tors, or  any  other  officer  or  officers  to  change  the  number  of  any 
school  district  or  suVdistrict,  joint  or  entire. 

Not  to  be  revived.  SECTION  2.  If  a  district  or  a  suV>dis- 
trict  is  dissolved,  or  by  the  exercise  of  proper  authority  attached 
to  and  made  a  part  of  another  district  or  districts,  no  newly 
formed  district  shall,  after  January  1,  1904,  be  made  to  bear 
the  number  of  the  district  so  dissolved. 


WISCONSIN    SCHOOL   LAWS   OF    1903. 


11 


This  chapter  is  designed  1<>  prevent  confusion  hereafter  in 
the  numbering  of  school  districts,  the  keeping  of  school  district 
records  by  the  towns,  and  to  enable  a  more  definite  record  of  dic- 
ionaries  furnished  free  to  school  districts  in  accordance  with 
the  provisions  of  section  509  as  kept  in  the  office  of  the  Stale 
Superintendent. 

In  the  case  of  consolidation  of  districts  the  town  supervis- 
ors shall  decide  upon  the  district,  the  number  of  which  is  to 

be  retained  and  a  definite  record  made  in  the  office  of  the  town 
clerk. 

Providing  for  town  free  high  school  buildings.  (Chapter 
123,  Laws  of  1903,  amending  Chapter  27,  Statutes  of  189S, 
by  the  addition  of  a  new  section  to  be  known  as  Section  495a.) 
SECTION  49 5a.  The  electors  of  any  town  organized  as  a  town 
free  high  school  district  are  authorized  at  any  annual  town 
meeting  or  special  town  meeting,  regularly  called,  to  levy  a 
tax  upon  the  real  and  personal  property  of  said  town  free  high 
school  district  for  the  purpose  of  purchasing  a,  site,  erecting  a 
suitable  school  building  thereon,  and  furnishing  said  building 
with  the  necessarv  furniture,  and  heating  and  ventilating  ap- 
paratus. 

This  law  was  passed  for  the  purpose  of  authorizing  the  elec- 
tors of  the  towrn,  assembled  at  some  special  or  annual  town 
meeting,  to  vote  a  tax  for  the  purpose  of  providing  for  the  erec- 
tion and  equipment  of  a  town  high  school  building  and  for  pu:1 
chasing  a  site. 

Maintenance  of  county  schools  of  agriculture  and  domestic 
economy.  (Chapter  143,  Laws  of  1903,  amending  Section  10, 
Chapter  288,  Laws  of  1901.)  SECTION  10.  Any  school  es- 
tablished under  the  provisions  of  this  act,  Avhose  courses  of 
study  and  qualifications  of  whose  teachers  have  been  approved 
by  the  state  superintendent  and  the  dean  of  the  college  of  agri- 
culture may,  upon  application,  be  placed  upon  an  approved 
list  of  county  schools  of  agriculture  and  domestic  economy. 
A  school  once  entered  upon  such  list  may  remain  listed  and 
be  entitled  to  state  aid  so  long  as  the  scope  and  character  of  its 
work  are  maintained  in  such  manner  a,s  to'  meet  the  approval 


12  WISCONSIN    SCHOOL   LA\\S    OF    1903. 

of  the  state  superintendent;  provided,  that  lie  shall  not  place 
upon  said  list  mdre  than  four  schools.  On  the  first  day  of 
July  in  each  year,  the  secretary  of  each  county  school  board 
maintaining  a  school  on  the  approved  list,  shall  report  to  the 
state  superintendent,  setting  fortli  the  facts  relating  to  the  cost 
of  maintaining  the  school,  the  character  of  the  work  done,'  the 
number  and  names  of  teachers  employed  and  such  other  mat- 
ters as  may  be  required  by  the  county  board  or  the  state  super- 
intendent. Upon  the  receipt  of  such  report,  if  it  shall  appeal- 
that  the  school  has  been  maintained  in  a  satisfactory  manner 
for  a  period  of  not  less  than  eight  months.,  during  the  year  clos- 
ing on  the  thirtieth  day  of  the  preceding  June,  the  said  super- 
intendent shall  make  a  certificate  to  that  effect  and  file  it  with 
the  secretary  of  state.  Upon  receiving  such  certificate,  the 
secretary  of  state  shall  draw  his  warrant,  payable  to  the  treas- 
urer of  the  county  maintaining  such:  school,  for  a  sum  equal 
to  two-thirds  the  amount  actually  expended  for  maintaining 
such  school  during  the  year;  provided,  that  the  total  amount 
so  apportioned  shall  not  exceed  four  thousand  dollars'  to  any 
one  school  any  one  year;  when  more  than  one  county  has 
contributed  to  the  support  of  the  school,  the  secretary  of  state 
shall  draw  his  warrant  payable  to  the  treasurer  of  each  county 
for  such  portion  of  the  state  aid  as  the  amount  contributed  by 
his  county  is  part  of  the  total  amount  contributed  by  all  the 
counties  for  the  support  of  the  school  for  the  preceding  year. 
The  secretary  of  state  shall  annually  include  and  apportion  in 
the  state  tax  such  sum  as  shall  have  been  so  paid. 

This  chapter  provides  for  two  additional  county  schools  of 
agriculture  and  domestic  economy,  and  increases  the  amount 
which  the  state  may  be  called  upon  to  pay  for  each  of  such 
schools  from  one-half  to  two-thirds  the  amount  expended  there- 
for, but  in  no  case  is  such  amount  to  exceed  $4,000.00.  Two 
such  schools  have  already  been  established  and  are  in  opera- 
tion. 

Relating  to  attendance  at  school.  (Chapter  189,  Laws  of 
1903,  amending  Sections  439a,  439b,  and  repealing  Section 
439c  of  the  Statutes  of  1898.)  '  SECTION  439a.  Any  person 
having  under  his  control  any  child  between  the  ages  of  7  and 
14  years,  or  any  child  between  the  ages  of  14  and  16  years  not 
regularly  and  lawfully  employed  in  any  useful  employment  or 


WISCONSIN    SCHOOL   JLAVS    C^    IJjUo.  13 

service  at  home  or  elsewhere,  shall  cause  such  child  to  be  en- 
rolled and  to  attend  some  public,  parochial  or  private  school 
regularly,  during  such  period  and  hours  of  the  calendar  year 
(religious  holidays  excepted)  as  the  public,  parochial  or  pri- 
vate school  in  which  such  child  is  enrolled  may  be  in  session; 
provided,  that  in  cities  such  child  must  attend  school  not  less 
than  8  calendar  months,  and  in  towns,  villages,  and  districts 
not  less  than  5  calendar  months  in  each  year,  and  provided 
further  that  this  section  shall  not  apply  to  any  child  not  in 
proper  physical  or  mental  condition  to  attend  school,  who  shall 
present  the  certificate  of  a  reputable  physician  in  general  prac- 
tice to  that  effect,  nor  to  any  child  who  lives  in  country 
districts  more  than  two  miles  by  the  nearest  traveled  road 
from  the  school  which  the  person  having1  control  of  such  child 
shall  designate.  Instruction  during  the  required  period  else- 
where than  at  school  by  a  teacher  selected  by  the  parson,  hav- 
ing control  of  such  child  shall  be  equivalent  to  school  attend- 
ance. Occasional  legitimate  absence  from  school  attendance 
or  instruction,  shall  not  he  deemed  a  violation  of  the  provi- 
sions of  this  section.  Any  person  who  shall  violate  the  pro- 
visions of  this  section  shall,  upon  conviction  thereof,  be  pun- 
ished by  a  fine  of  not  less  than  five  dollars  nor  more  than  fifty 
dollars,  or  by  imprisonment  in  the  county  jail  not  exceeding 
three  months  for  each  offense.  Any  person  who  shall  be  pro- 
ceeded against  under  the  provisions  of  this  section  may  prove 
in  defense  that  he  is  unable  to  compel-  the  child  under  his  con- 
trol to  attend  school  or  work,,  and  he  shall  be  thereupon  dis- 
charged from  liability,  and  such  child  shall  be  proceeded 
against  as  incorrigible,  or  otherwise,  according  to  law,  and  in 
case  of  commitment,  if  the  parents  or  person  having  control 
of  such  child  desire  it,  such  child  shall  be  committed  to  a 
school  or  association  controlled  by  persons  of  the  same  relig- 
ious faith  as  such  child,  w7hich  is  walling  and  able  to  receive 
and  maintain  it  without  compensation  from  the  public  treas- 
ury. When  in  any  proceeding  under  this  section  there  is  any 
doubt  as  to  the  age  of  any  child,  a,  verified  baptismal  certifi- 
cate or  a  duly  attested  birth  certificate  shall  be  produced  and 
filed  with  the  court.  In  case  such  certificates  cannot  be  se- 
cured, upon  proof  of  such  fact,  the  record  of  age  stated  in  the 
first  school  enrollment  of  such  child  shall  be  admissible  as  evi- 
dence thereof. 

Duty    of    officers.     SECTION-  439b.     In  all  cities  of  the  first 
class  the  board  of  education  or  any  board  having  similar  pow- 


14  WISCONSIN    SCHOOL   LAWS    OF    1903. 

ers,  shall  appoint  three  or  more  truant  officers  and  in  all  other 
cities  having  more  than  10,000  population  by  the  la>i  I/nitcd 
States  or  state  census,  such  board  shall  appoint  one  or  more 
truant  ofUeors  whose  duty  it  shall  b©  to  see  that  the  provisions 
of  this  and  the  last  preceding  section  are  enforced,  and  when  of 
his  personal  knowledge,  or  by  report  or  complaint  from  any 
resident  of  the  city,  a  truant  officer  believes  that  any  child  is 
unlawfully  and  habitually  absent  from  school  and  not  other- 
wise receiving  instruction  as  provided  in  section  I30a  as 
amended,  ho  shall  immediately  investigate  and  render  all  serv- 
ice in  his  power,  acting  discreetly,  to  compel  such  child  to  at- 
tend some  public,  parochial  or  private  school  which  the  \ 
having  control  of  the  child  shall  desk  mile,  or  if  over  14  years 
of  age  to  attend  school  or  boo  Hue  regularly  employed  at 
or  elsewhere,  and  upon  failure  he  shall  serve  a  written  notice 
upon  the  person  having  control  of  such  child  requiring  him  to 
place  such  child  in  some  public,  private  or  parochial  school 
within  five  days,  and  if  such  person  shall  fail  to  .  with 

such  notice  without  legal  excuse  within  the  specified  ir.no,  the 
truant  officer  shall  prosecute  such  person  in  the  manner  pro- 
vided in  the  preceding  section.  In  all  cities  having  lots  than 
10,000  population  by  such  census,  and  in  all  towns,  villages 
and  districts  the  board  of  education  or  any  board  h living  sim- 
ilar .powers,  or  the  district  board  may  appoint  one  or  more  tru- 
ant'officers  whose  duties  shall  he  the  same  as  the  truant  ofliceis 
above  provided,  and  in  case  no  truant  oilioor  is  Appointed,  those 
duties  shall  be  performed  by  the  city  superintendent  of  schools 
in  cities  having  such  officers  and  by  the  chairman  of  the  board 
of  education  or  the  district  board  in  all  other  cities,  towns,  vil- 
lages and  districts.  Any  truant  officer,  or  other  oiH"er  whose 
duties  are  herein  prescribed,  who  shall  fail  to  comply  with  or 
enforce1  the  provisions  of  this  or  the  preceding1  section  within 
fifteen  days  after  a  written  notice  has  been  served  upon  him  by 
any  qualified  elector  or  taxpayer  within  the  district,  town,  vil- 
lage or  city  within  which  the  offending1  person  shall  reside, 
shall  himself  be  liable  to  a,  forfeiture  of  not  less  than  ten  dol- 
lars nor  more  than  twenty  dollars  for  each  offense,  and  any 
such  elector  or  taxpayer  may  sue  for  such  forfeiture.  Tiuant 
officers  shall  receive  only  such  compensation  from  tl>o  public 
school  funds  as  may  be  determined  upon  by  their  respective 
boards  and  such  truant  officers  shall  report  all  cases  of  truancy 
and  their  action  therein  to  their  respective  boards  within  seven 
days  after  such  action  shall  have  been  taken.  Any  factory 
inspector  or  assistant  factory  inspector  appointed  by  the  corn- 


WISCONSIN    SCHOOL   LAWS    OF    1903.  15 

inissioner  of  the  bureau  of  labor  and 'industrial  statistics  shall 
have  the  power  of  a  truant  officer,  and  shall  report  all  cases  of 
truancy  coming  to  his  knowledge  to  the  board  of  the  city, 
town,  village  or  district  in  which  such  truant  resides. 

This  is  an  important  and  far  reaching  law.  It  changes  the 
period  of  attendance  hereafter  required  on  the  part  of  persons 
between  7  and  14  years  of  age  from,  twelve  weeks  during  the 
year  to  five  calendar  months  on  the  part  of  such  persons  resid- 
ing in  towns,  villages  and  districts  and  to  eight  calendar 
months  on  the  part  of  persons  residing  in  cities.  The  term 
"calendar  month"  must  be  understood  to  imply  "school 
month"  of  twenty  days  including  legal  holidays. 

Joint  school  districts,  (Chapter  218,  Laws  of  1903,  amend- 
ing Section  419a,  Statutes  of  1898,  as  amended  by  Chapter 
343  of  the  Laws  of  1901.)  SECTION  419a.  Whenever  an  ap- 
plication in  writing,  describing  and  clearly  'setting  forth  by 
use  of  usual  and  definite  terms,  and  having  for  its  purpose  the 
alteration  of  the  boundaries  of  any  joint  school  district,  signed 
by  at  least  two  members  of  the  board  of  supervisors  of  any 
town  in  which  any  part  of  such  joint  school  district  is  situ- 
ated, shall  be  presented  to  the  chairman  of  the  town,  the  mayor 
of  the  city  or  president  of  the  board  of  trustees  of  the  village, 
in  which,  the  school  house  of  such  joint  district  may  bo  situ- 
ated, such  chairman,  mayor  of  the  city,  or  president  of  the  vil- 
lage board,  shall,  upon  receipt  of  such  application  or  petition, 
fix  a  time  for  the  joint  meeting  of  the  town  board  of  super- 
visors, and  the  city  council,  or  the  village  board  of  trustees  of 
all  the  •municipalities  in  any  way  affected  by  said  proposed 
change,  which  time  shall  not  be  less  than  ten  or  more  than 
twenty  days  after  the  presentation  to  said  officer  of  such  peti- 
tion or  application.  The  officer  to  whom  the  application  or 
petition  is  presented  shall  cause  a  written  notice  of  the  time, 
and  place  of  such  meeting  to  be  given  to  each  supervisor,  mem- 
f'  the  council,  or  member  of  the  village  board  of  trustees 
entitled  to  he  present  at  such  meeting,  which  notice  shall  be 
served  at  least  five  days  prior  to  the  dale  fixed  therefor.  Such 
UK  cling  shall  ho  held  at  the  school  house-  in  such  joint  district, 
unless  some  other  convenient  place  shall  be  designated  in  the 
notice.  If  the  chairman  .of  tlio  town,  mayor  of  the  citv,  or 
president  of  the  hoard  of  village  trustees,  as  The  ease  mav  ho. 


1(5  WISCONSIN    SCHOOL   LAWS   OF   1903. 

to  whom  such  application  shall  be  presented,  neglect  or  refuse 
to  fix  the  time  and  the  place  or  to  give  notice  for  the  meeting 
as  provided  by  this  section,  or  if  the  supervisors,  the  city  coun- 
cil, or  the  board  of  village  trustees,  or  a,  majority  thereof,  of 
any  town,  city  or  village  in  any  way  interested  or  affected  by 
the  proposed  change  of  school  district  boundaries,  neglect  or 
refuse  to  be  present  at  such,  meeting  or  being  present,  neglect 
or  refuse  to  hear  and  vote  upon  the  application  before  them, 
the  application  shall  be  deemed  denied,  and  an  appeal  may  be 
had  therefrom  in  similar  manner,  and  with  like  effect  as  in 
other  cases  of  denial.  The  provisions  of  sections  418,  419, 
422,  and  497,  shall,  as  far  as  may  be  applicable,  apply  to  the 
above  proceedings. 

Change  of  boundaries  in  joint  school  districts;  application, 
how  made.  SECTION  2.  The  board  of  supervisors  of  any 
town  containing  territory,  now  or  hereafter  embraced  within 
the  boundaries  of  any  joint  school  district  may  make  the  ap- 
plication provided  for  in  section  one,  whenever  in  their  judg- 
ment such  alteration  will  promote  the  welfare  of  the  pupils  re- 
siding in  such  town ;  and  suck  board  shall  make  such  applica- 
tion whenever  one-third  of  the  voters  residing  in  such  town  or 
two-thirds  of  the  voters  residing  in  that  portion  of  such  joint 
district,  situated  in  such  town  shall  make  and  file  with  the  town 
<clerk  a  petition,  praying  that  such  alteration  be  made. 

It  appears  that  this  law  provides  another  method  whereby 
the  boundaries  of  joint  districts  may  be  altered.  In  any  case 
where  such  alteration  is  contemplated  it  will  be  wise  for  the 
town  boards  of  supervisors,  as  well  as  other  parties  interested, 
to  look  up  all  the  laws  relating  to  the  alteration  of  district 
boundaries  and  formation  of  new  districts,  especially  sections 
413,  415,  418,  419,  419a,  420,  422,  424.  The  method 
most  easily  applied  in  the  particular  case  should  be  adopted. 
It  may  not  be  out  of  place  to  state  that  if  in  any  case  the  town 
boards  of  supervisors  in  any  way  interested  agree  to  meet,  they 
may  do  so  on  their  own  motion  and  without  any  petition. 
If  their  proceedings  are  regular  their  actions  will  stand,  un- 
less set  aside  upon  an  appeal.  A  petition  is  deemed  necessary 
only  in  cases  where  it  is  probable  that  one  or  more  of  the  board 


WISCONSIN    SCHOOL   LAWS    OP   1903.  tf 

will  refuse  to  act.  Section  41 9 a  was  apparently  enacted 
for  the  sole  purpose  of  providing  a  possible  remedy  by  an  ap- 
peal to  the  state  superintendent.  It  should  also  be  understood 
that  where  the  boards  meet  on  their  own  motion  a  preliminary 
meeting  must  be  called  for  the  purpose  of  issuing  the  written 
notices,  required  by  section  418  (See  Form  8,  Page  223  of  the 
School  Code).  At  the  time  and  place  for  the  second  meeting 
the  supervisors  will  have  jurisdiction  over  the  subject  matter 
and,  consequently,  have  power  to  lawfully  make  any  bound- 
ary alteration  and  to  make  the  requisite  orde>r  if  their  judgment 
so  dictates. 

Certificates  for  primary  teachers.  (Chapter  222,  Laws  of 
1903.)  SECTION  1.  All  teachers  of  primary  grades  only 
(and  the  words  "primary  grades"  shall  be  construed  to  include 
nothing  beyond  the  first  four  years'  work  in  schools  working 
under  a  course  of  study  requiring  at  least  eight  years  for  its 
completion),  who  now  hold  or  may  hereafter  obtain  by  exami- 
nation from  the  proper  examining  officer,  a  certificate  of  the 
third  or  any  higher  grade1,  or  of  a  countersigned  high  school 
diploma,  which,  under  this  act,  shall  be  construed  to  mean  the 
first  grade  certificate,  may  secure  a  renewal  thereof  as  now 
provided  by  law,  or  may  submit  to  the  county  or  city  super- 
intendent, as  the  case  may  be,  satisfactory  evidence  of  having 
taught  successfully  in  primary  grades  of  the  public  schools  of 
this  state,  as  above  specified,  for  at  least  forty  months,  in  five 
consecutive  years,  shall  be  granted  a  certificate  of  the  same 
grade  without  further  examination,  upon  application  to  the' 
superintendent  of  the  county  or  city  from  which  the  first  cer- 
tificate was  granted,  provided,  any  teacher  availing  herself  of 
such  waiver  of  examination,  shall  each  year,  for  a  period  of 
at  least  two  consecutive  weeks,  before  each  said  second  or  third 
certificate  is  issued,  attend  some  school  or  department 
thereof  ^specially  established  for  the  purpose  of  giving;  instruc- 
tion and  training  in  primary  methods  of  teaching;  and  it  is 
further  provided  that  certificates  may  be  granted  to  primary 
teachers  already  qualified  in  one  county  or  city  by  the  examin- 
ing officer  of  another  county  or  city,  on  the  transfer  of  papers 
as  provided  in  section  450c,  laws  of  1901. 

This  is  a  new  law,  enacted  for  the  purpose  of  relieving  teach- 

7 


18  WISCONSIN    SCHOOL   LAWS    OF    1903. 

ers  in  primary  grades  from  examination  in  certain  eases  and 
Tinder  certain  conditions.  It  is  not  intended  that  this  law  shall 
renew  certificates  that  have  already  expired,  no  matter  of  what 
grade,  neither  does  it  renew  certificates  granted  by  the  state 
normal  schools.  The  provisions  of  the  chapter  vail  be  under- 
stood by  careful  reading. 

Alteration  of  school  district  boundaries.  (Chapter  266, 
amending  Section  419,  Statutes  t>f  1898.)  SECTION  4-19.  ,  In 
all  cases  where  an  alteration  of  the  boundaries  of  a  school  dis- 
trict shall  be  made,  the  town  board  of  supervisors  shall,  within 
three  days  thereafter,  give  notice  thereof  by  filing  a  copy  of  the 
order  so  altering  said  school  district.,  with  the  town  clerk  and 
also  with  the  district  clerk  of  each  of  the  districts  affected  by 
such  alteration.  No  alteration  of  any  organized  school  district 
shall  be  made  to  take  effect  between  the  first  day  of  December 
in  any  year,  and  the  first  day  of  April  following. 

Before  the  passage  of  this  law  it  was  in  the  power  of  a  school 
district  board  to  postpone  the  time  when  an.  order  made  by 
the  town  board  of  supervisors  altering  the  boundary  of  a  school 
district  could  take  effect.  The  clause  of  section  4-li)  giving 
a  district  board  this  power,  is  omitted  and  hereafter  an  order 
altering  school  district  boundaries  may  be  made  to  take  effect 
in  accordance  with  the  judgment  of  the  supervisors  making  the 
order. 

State     aid     to     graded  schools.— Average     daily     attendance. 

(Chapter  285,  amending  Subdivision  2,  of  Section  !>,  cf  Chap- 
ter 439,  Laws  of  1JI01.)  2.  Schools  shall  bo  maintained  in 
the  district  receiving  such  aid,  at  least  nine  school  iiiontlis,  in- 
cluding legal  holidays,  in  each  and  every  depai  tin*  nt,  /  t  le&st 
three  departments  in  schools  of  the  first  class  and  both  depart* 
ments  in  schools  of  the  second  class  shall  have  an  average  daily 
attendance  of  not  less  than  fifteen  pupils  for  the  entire  school 
year,  to  entitle  the  school  to  state-  aid. 

The  change  made  by  this  chapter  is  slight.  It  provides  that 
when  any  three  departments  in  a  state  graded  sclmr.l  shall  have 
had  an  average  daily  attendance  of  not  less  than  fifteen  for 


WISCONSIN    SCHOOL    LA\V  o    OF    1903.  19 

the  entire  school  year  the  district  will  be  entitled  to  share  in 
the  special  apportionment  made  to  graded  schools,  notwith- 
standing that  a  fourth  or  a  fifth  department  may  not  have 
had  an  average  daily  attendance  of  fifteen  pupils, 

Election  of  county  or  district  superintendents.  (Chapter  307, 
Laws  of  11)03,  amending-  Section  098  of  the  Statutes  of  1898.) 
&ECTIOX  098.  At  the  general  election  in  the  year  one  thousand 
nine  hundred  and  four  and  biennially  thereaiter,  there  shall  be 
elected  in  each  county  for  a  regular  term,  the  following  county 
officers,  viz. :  A  county  clerk,  treasurer,  sheriff,  coroner,  clerk 
of  circuit  court,  district  attorney,  register  of  deeds  and  sur- 
veyor. The  regular  term  of  office  of  ail  such  officers  shall  com- 
mence on  the  first  Monday  of  January  next  succeeding  their 
election  and  continue  two  years ;  but  eacli  such  officer,  includ- 
ing those  now  in  office,  shall  hold  his  office  until  his  successor  is 
qualified. 

A  superintendent  of  schools  shall  be  chosen  by  the  ^  qualified 
electors  of  each  superintendent  district  in  the  state  of  Wiscon- 
sin, at  the  election  to  be  held  on  the  first  Tuesday  in  April 
in  the  year  one  thousand  nine  hundred  and  five  and  biennially 
thereafter,  and  said  officer  shall  hold  his  office  for  the  term 
of  two  years  from  the  succeeding  first  Monday  of  July.  The 
countv  'or  district  superintendent  chosen  at  the  general  election 
in  November,  A.  IX  1902,  or  thereafter  appointed,  shall  hold 
and  continue  in  office  as  such,  until  the  first  .Monday  in  July, 
A.  D.  1905,  and  their  successors  shall  be  chosen,  as  herein- 
before prescribed  at  the  election  in  Apiril,  A.  I).  1905.  The 
superintendent  of  each  district  shall  hold  his.  office  until  his 
successor  is  elected  and  qualified.  The  county  board  of  super- 
visors of  every  county,  at  the  annual  meeting  next  preceding 
the  election  of  such  superintendent  or  superintendents,  shall 
fix  the  amount  of  salary  which  shall  be  received  by  the ^ super- 
intendent of  schools  of  each  superintendent  district  within  said 
county  except  the  city  superintendent  of  schools  of  any  city, 
and  may  allow  such  actual  and  necessary  traveling  expenses 
within  and  without  the  county,  as  may  be  reasonable  and  jjust; 
the  same  to  be  audited,  allowed  and  paid  in,  the  same  manner 
as  other  claims  against  the  county  are  audited,  allowed  and 
paid. 

This  chapter  changes  the  time  of  the  election  of  county  super- 
intendents of  schools.     Hereafter  such  officers  will  be  elected 


QQ  WISCONSIN    SCHOOL   LAWS    OF    1903. 

at  the  spring  elections.  The  term  of  office  is  not.  changed  ex- 
cept that  the  superintendents  now  in  orEjce  will  continue  until 
the  tiist  Mi.nday  in  July,  1905. 

Common  school  fund.  (Chapter  313,  amending  Sections 
10 7:2 n  and  554  of  the  Statutes  of  IS  98,  and  adding  two  new 
sections.)  SECTION  1072a.  There  is  appropriated  annually 
to  the  common  school  fund  income  an  amount  equal  to  seven- 
tentlis  of  one  mill  for  each  dollar  of  the  assessed  valuation  of 
the  taxable  property  in  the  state,,  as  determined  by  a  State 
Board  of  Assessment,  exclusive  of  the  property  of  corporations 
which  pay  license  fees,  or  which  are  assessed  for  taxation  by 
a  state  board  of  assessment,  to  be  derived  annually  as  follows: 
two  hundred  thousand  dollars  from  the  license  fees,  or  taxes 
paid  by  said  corporations,  and  the  balance  from  a  tax  which 
shall  be  levied  on  all  other  taxable  property.  The  appropria- 
tion hereby  made  shall  be  taken  from  the  license  fees  and  taxes 
aforesaid  accruing  to  the  state  in  the  month  of  February  in 
each  year,  and  the  amount  thereof  shall  be  disbursed  in  the 
manner  and  under  the  conditions  and  restrictions  provided  for 
disbursements  of  the  common  school  fund  income. 

Apportionment  of.  SECTION  554.  The  school  fund  income 
shall  be  apportioned  by  the  state  superintendent  between  the 
tenth  and  fifteenth  days  of  December  in  each  year.  The 
amo'unt  to  be  so  apportioned  shall  include  all  moneys  belong- 
ing to  said  fund  received  prior  to  the  first  day  of  December  in 
the  same  year,  together  with  the  amount  thereafter  to  accrue 
to  such  income  from  the  state  tax  levy  made  in  the  same  year, 
and  the  two  hundred  thousand  dollars  to  be  appropriated  from 
license  fees  and  taxes  paid  by  corporations  in  February  follow- 
ing, under  the  provisions  of  section  1072a,,  and  after  Decem- 
ber, 1903,  shall  include  also  the  interest  receipts  thereafter  to 
accrue  to  said  fund  from  the  state  tax  levy  of  the  same  year 
or  to  be  collected  therewith  as  special  charges.  Such  appor- 
tionment shall  be  made  among  the  several  counties,  towns,  vil- 
lages and  cities  according  to  the  number  of  children  in  each 
over  the  a^e  of  four  and  under  the  age  of  twenty  years,  as 
shown  by  the  reports  made  to  the  State  Superintendent  for  the 
year  preceding,  ending  June  30th. 

Sections  repealed  and  renumbered.  SEOTTOX  4.  Section  554 
of  the  statutes  of  1898  is  hereby  amended  by  striking  out  the 


WISCONSIN    SCHOOL   LAWS   OF   1903.  21 

first  two  sentences,  and  renumbering  the  remainder  of  such  sec- 
tion as  amended  by  chapter  115  of  the  laws  of  1899,  so  thai 
the  same  shall  be  section  554a. 

This  chapter  was  passed  for  the  purpose  of  reducing  the 
amount  of  the  common  school  income  derived  from  what  is 
commonly  known  as  the  one-mill  tax.  It  provides  that  an 
amount  not  to  exceed  seven-tenths  of  a  mill,  based  upon  the 
assessed  valuation  of  the  property  of  the  state,  as  fixed  by  the 
state  tax  commission,  shall  be  paid  from  the  state  treasury 
each  year  to  the  common  schools  of  the  state.  This  chapter 
also  provides  that  a  specific  sum  of  two  hundred  thousand  dol- 
lars shall,  for  each  of  the  next  two  years  at  least,  be  taken  each 
year  from  the  license  fees  and  taxes  paid  by  corporations.  This 
will  reduce  the  tax  levied  by  the  tax  commission  upon  the  prop 
erty  of  the  state  to  less  than  seven-tenths  of  a  mill  each  year. 

Legal  school  holidays,  (Chapter  326,  Laws  of  1903,  amend- 
ing Section  459  of  the  Statutes  of  1898.)  SECTION  459. 
TWenty  days  of  teaching  shall  constitute  a  school  month  unless 
it  be  otherwise  specified  in  the  contract,  and  all  legal  holidays, 
except  the  day  of  any  general  election,  occurring  on  school  days 
shall  be  counted  although  no  school  be  taught ;  but  school  taught 
on  legal  holidays  shall  not  be  counted  for  two  school  days,  and 
no  Saturday  shall  be  counted.  The  board  may  give  to  any 
teacher  employed,  without  deduction  from  his  wages,  the  whole 
or  any  part  of  any  time  spent  by  him  in  attending  the  sessions 
of  any  institute  held  in  the  county  embracing  any  part  of  the 
district.,  upon  such  teacher  furnishing  to  the  clerk,  to  be  filed 
by  him,  a  certificate  of  regular  attendance  on  such  institute, 
signed  by  the  person  conducting  the  same. 

This  chapter  abolishes  general  election  day  (the  first  Tues- 
day xa.f ter  the  first  Monday  in  November  in  every  even  num- 
bered year)  as  a  legal  holiday.  legal  holidays  can  only  be 
counted  in  favor  of  the  teacher  or  the  school  district  when  they 
occur  on  school  days  and  when  school  under  other  circum- 
stances would  be  in  session.  The  school  holidays  now  recog- 
nized by  statute  are:  January  1st,  February  22d,  May  30th. 


L>.>  WISCONSIN    SCHOOL   LAWS    OF    1903. 

July  4 tli,  I.abitr  Day — usually  ccfurriiii,1  the  first.  Monday  in 
September  in  accordance!  wi;h  a  proclamation  by  the  Gover- 
nor— Thanksgiving  Day — usually  the  last  Thursday  in  No- 
vember— and  Christmas  Day.  When  legal  holidays  occur  on 
Sunday,  the  following  Monday  is  the  holiday. 

Free  high  school  attendance — Tuition,  how  paid.  (Chapter 
329,  amendatory  of  Chapter  188  of  the  Laws  of  1901.)  &EC- 
TIOJST  1.  The  free  high  school  board  of  any  free  high  school 
district  organized  under  the  laws  of  this  state,  shall  admit 
to  the  high  school  under  its  control,  whenever  the  facilities  for 
seating  and  instruction  will  warrant,  any  person  of  school  age 
prepared  to  enter  such  school,  who  may  reside  in  any  town 
or  incorporated  village,  but  not  within  any  free  high  school  dis- 
trict, and  who  shall  have  completed  the  course  of  study  in  the 
school  district  in  which  he  resides,  or  one  equivalent  thereto. 
Persons  so  admitted  shall  be  entitled  to  the  same  privileges  and 
be  subject  to  the  same  rules-  and  regulations  as  pupils-  of  the 
school  who  are  residents  of  the  free  high  school  district, 

Tuition  fee,  statement  of.  SEC-;'; ox  '2.  \Vhenever  persons, 
not  residing  in  any  free  high  school  district  and  having  com- 
pleted the  course  of  study  in  the  school  district  in  \\hieli  they 
reside,  or  one  equivalent  thereto,  as  herein  provided,  enter 
any  free  high  school,  the  free  high  sehcc-1  Ix^rd  of  that  district 
shall  he  entitled  and  is  hereby  authorized  to  charge  a  tuition 
fee  for  such  pupils  not  to  exceed  lifty  cents  pov  week.  On 
or  before  the  first  day  of  July  in  each  year,  the  secretary  of 
the  free  high  school  boa»rd  shall  make  a.  sv  tement  to  the 

clerk  of  the  city,  town  or  village  from  v,  Inch  r.ny  person  may 
have  been  admitted  to  said  free  high  school.  Said  statement 
shall  set  forth  the  residence,  name,  age  ;md  date  of  entrance 
to  such  school,  and  number  cf  months'  attendance  during  the 
preceding  school  year  cf  each  person  so  admitted  from  such 
city,,  town  or  village;  this  statei  H  show  ihe  amount 

of  tuition  which,  under  the  provisions  of  this  act,  the  district 
is  entitled  to  receive  for  each'  person  reported  as  having  been 
a  member  of  the  school  from  such  city,  town  or  village,  and 
the  aggregate  sum  for  tuition  for  all  porsons  so>  admitted  from 
each  city,  town  or  village,  which  p.tate'vent  ^h-ill  he  filed  ;;s  a 
claim  n <Tiiin*t-  the  town,  cit.v  or  village  where  ^ir-h  person  re- 
side-, and  allowed  as  other  claims  are  allowed. 


.    WISCONSIN    SCHOOL   LA\\  S    OF    1903.  ->;> 

Evidence  of  completion  of  course  of  study,  what  is  sufficient. 
SECTION  <}.  1  lie  ii.--.ua  1  diploma  issued  by  any  school  or  school, 
district  organized  under  the  laws  of  the  state,  shall  be  sulh'- 
eieiit  evideneo  of  the  completion  of  the  course  of  study  herein- 
before mentioned,  and  it  shall  be  the  duly  of  the  stale  super- 
intendent, in  all  eases  where  a  coin  ;:<!y  is  not  already 
prescribed,  to  prescribe  a  course  of  study  and  designate  what 
shall  constitute  a  completion,  thereof  under  this  act.  A  du- 
plicate of  Mich  diploma  or  a  copy  thereof  duly  certified  as  such, 
by  any  of  the  persons  signing  the  original,  shall  be  delivered 
up  n  request  to  the  ]  orsons  named  therein,  and  shall  bo  filed 
by  him  with  the-  secretary  of  the  free  high  school  board  of  the 
free  high  school  district,  upon  his  admission  to.  its-  high  school. 
A  certificate  from  the  county  superintendent  of  the  completion 
of  such 'course,  or  thai  the  diploma  hereinbefore  referred  to  has 
been  properly  issued  to  the  person  named  therein,  shall  have 
the  same  effect  as  such  diploma,  as  ^vidence  of  the  completion 
of  the  course  of  study.  All  duplicate  diplomas,  or  certified 
copies  thereof,  or  certificates  of  county  superintendents  so  filed, 
shall  be  attached  to  the  sworn  statement  of  such  secretary  here- 
inbefore provided  for. 

Tuition,  how  collected  in  villages.  SKCTIOX  -1.  The  village 
clerk  shall  enter  upon  the  tax  roll  of  the  village  for  the  ensu- 
ing  year  such  sums  as  may  be  due  for  tuition  on  account  of 
residents  of  the  village  who  have  attended  such  free  high  school 
or  schools,  and  the  amounts  so  entered  shall  be  collected  when 
and  as  other  taxes  are  collected,  and  shall  be  paid  when  so  col- 
lected, to  the  treasurer  of  the  free  hiffh  school  district  or  dis- 
tricts, where  such  persons  have  attended  the  free  hiqh  school 
or  schools. 

How  collected  in  towns.  SKCTTOX  ;">.  The  clerk  of  any  town 
not  having1  within  its  territory  a  free  hi<>h  -'"heel  district,  shall 
enter  upon  the  tax  roll  of  the  town  for  the  ensuing  vonr  such 
sums  as  may  be  due  for  tuition  on  account  of  residents  of  the 
town  who  have  attended  such  free  In'p'h  school  or  schools,  and 
the  amounts  so  entered  shall  be  collected  when  and  P*  other 
taxes  are  collected,  and  shall  bo  r<-nd  when  s'>  c'>lle"-f^d.  to  the 
treasurer  of  the  free  liiffh  school  district  where  such  persons 
have  attended  the  free  high  school  or  schools. 

How  collected  in  portion  of  town  or  city  not  in  district.  ftw- 
TTOX  f>.  The  clerk  of  anv  town  or  citv.  a  portion  of  wlrVh 


94  WISCONSIN    SCHOOL   LAWS    OF    1903.  ' 

constitutes  or  forms  a.  part  of  a  free  high  school  distrit,  shall 
enter  upon  the  tax  roll  for  that  part  of  the  town  or  city,  not 
within  a  free  high  school  district,  such  sums  as  may  be  due 
for  tuition  on  account  of  residents  of  that  portion  of  the  town 
or  city,  that  have  attended  such  free  high  school  or  schools, 
and  the  amounts  so  entered  shall  be  collected  when,  and  as 
other  taxes  are  collected,  and  shall  be  paid  when  so  collected, 
to  the  treasurer  of  the  free  high  school  district  or  districts  where 
such  persons  have  attended  the  free  high  school  or  schools. 

This  law  permits  persons  (a)  of  school  age  (b)  not  residing 
in  a  free  high  school  district,  and  (c)  possessed  of  proper  evi- 
dence of  having,  completed  a  common  school  course  of  study,  to 
attend  any  free  high  school  jn  Wisconsin,  where  (d)  facilities 
for  instruction  are  sufficient,  and  (e)  subject  to  the  rules  and 
regulations  of  such  school,  and  makes  their  tuition  not  to  ex- 
ceed fifty  cents  a  week,  chargeable  to  the  town,  city  or  village 
in  which  they  reside. 

Under  "(c)"  above  the  following  points  are  to  be  noted: 

1.  The  course  of  study  to  be  completed  must:  be  prescribed 
by  the  state  superintendent,  and  it  is  left  to  him  to  determine 
what1  shall  constitute   a  completion    thereof.       The  course  pre- 
scribed by  him  is  found  in  the  manual  for  common  schools. 

2.  Except  in  city  superintendent  districts,  all  public  schools 
except  free  high  schools,   are  under  the  supervision   of  some 
county  superintendent,  and  all  diplomas  issued  by  such  schools 
must  receive  his  sanction  in  order  to  be  received  as  evidence  that 
the  common  school  course  of  study  has  been  completed.       He 
may  insist  upon  examination  in  all  cases,  or,  as  in  the  case  of 
a  system  of  graded  schools  under  the  supervision  of   a  high 
school  principal,  he  may  accept  the  certificates  of  the  princi- 
pal without  examination. 

3.  It  follows,  therefore,  that  whereas  the  principal  acting  un- 
der direction  of  the  board  has  heretofore  had  the  power  to  de- 
termine the  qualifications  for  admission,  the  power  to  do   so 
now  rests  xolely  with  the  county  superintendent. 


WISCONSIN    SCHOOL  LAWS   OP   1903.  25 

It  would  seem  that  in  all  cases  where  a  pupil  has  been  in 
attendance  upon  a  free  high  school  and  has  completed  the  work 
of  any  year  of  said  high  school  the  records  may  be  taken  by 
the  county  superintendent  as  sufficient  evidence  of  the  quali- 
fication of  the  pupil  to  continue  high  school  work,  and  of  his 
right,  if  he  'so  desires,  to  have  his  tuition  made  a  charge  upon 
the  town  or  village  in  which  he  resides.  It  would  also  seem 
that  in  cases  where  non-resident  pupils  complete  the  work  in 
the  8th  or  9th  grade  in  any  district  having  a  free  high,  school, 
the  record  of  such  department  may  be  accepted  by  the  county 
superintendent  as  evidence  of  the  fitness  of  Such  pupil  to  enter 
the  high  school  with  other  pupils  of  the  same  class  and  grade, 
who  are  residents  of  the  free  high  school  district, 

4.  In  order  that  charges  for  tuition  may  be  collected  by  a 
free  high  school  board  from  the  town  in  which  any  non-resi- 
dent student  resides,  the  secretary  must,  before  the  first  day 
of  July  in  each  year,  file  a  sworn  statement  with  the  clerk, 
giving  residence,  name,  age,  date  of  entrance  and  number  of 
months'  attendance  at  school  of  each  person  so  admitted  from 
his  town,  city  or  village,  together  with  the  amount  of  tuition 
charged,  such  charge  not  to  exceed  fifty  cents  per  week. 

5.  This  statement  must  be  accompanied  by  a  diploma,  or  copy 
of  diploma,  or  certificate  from  one  who  has  signed  the  diploma, 
or  a  certificate  from  the  county  superintendent.        As  above 
shown,  this  diploma  if  from  a,  public  school  under  the  super- 
vision of  the  county  superintendent,  must  have  been  issued  by 
the  county  superintendent,  or  have  received  his  sanction  in  order 
that  it  may  be  received  as  evidence,  that  the  common  school 
course  of  study  has  been  completed. 

When,  a  certificate  or  diploma  as  above  described,  or  a  certi- 
fied copy  of  either,  has  once  been  filed  with  the  clerk,  the  law 
will  doubtless  be  satisfied  thereafter  if  other  copies  are  not  filed 
with  him  with  the  bill  for  tuition. 

Section  1  states  that  "persons  so  admitted  shall  be  subject 


20  WISCONSIN    SCHOOL   LAM/S   OF    1903. 

to  the  same  rules  and  regulations  as  pupils  of  the  school  who 
are  residents  of  the  free  high  school  district",  This  clearly 
gives  the  free  high  school  authorities  the  right  to  examine  all 
students  and  to  reject  an}'  whose  qualifications  are  found  to*  be 
below  the  standard  set  by  such  school  even  though  the  diploma 
or  certificate  may  be  presented. 

County  training  schools  for  teachers.  (Chapter  338,  Laws  of 
1903,  amending  Chapter  373,  Laws  of  1901,  creating  five  new 
sections  relating"  to  county  training  schools  for  teachers.)  SEC- 
TION 1.  The  county  board  of  any  county  within  which  a  state 
normal  school  is  not  located,  is  hereby  authorized  to  appropri- 
ate money  for  the  organization,  equipment  and  maintenance 
of  a  county  training  school  for  teachers  of  the  common  schools. 

Board  for;  appointments,  vacancies,  bond,  organization.  SEC- 
TION 2.  A  board  to  be  known  as  the  county  training  school 
board,  is  hereby  created,  who  shall  have  charge  and  control  of 
all  matters  pertaining  to  the  organization,  equipment  and  main- 
tenance of  such  school,  except  as  otherwise  provided  by  law. 
Said  board  shall  consist  of  three  members,  one  of  whom  shall 
be  the  county  superintendent  of  schools  of  the  county  or  dis- 
trict in  which  the  school  is  located.  Tlhe  other  members  of 
the  board  shall  be  elected  by  the  county  hoard,  for  the  tcri:i  of 
three  years  from  the  date  of  their  election.  Vacancies  existing 
in  the  board,  from)  whatever  cause,  except  in  the  case  of  the 
county  superintendent,  shall  be  filled  by  appointment  made  by 
the  chairman  of  the  county  board,  if  the  comity  hoard  i*  not 
in  session  when  such  vacancy  occurs.  If  the  county  board  is  in 
session,  vacancies  shall  be  filled  by  election  by  said  board  for 
the  unexpired  term.  Appointments  made  by  the  chairman  of 
the  county  board,  as  hereinbefore  specified,  shall  he  for  the  time 
to  elapse  until  the  next  regular  meeting  of  the  county  board. 
Eiach  person  appointed  or  cmitcd  a  member  of  the  county  train- 
ing school  board  shall  within  ten  days  after  the  notice  of  such 
app'iiiitiiioiit,  tnk°  ailfl  subscribe  an  oath,  to  support  the  consti- 
tution of  the  United  States  and  the  constitution  of  Wisconsin, 
and  honestly,  faithfully  and  impartially  to  discharge  his  duties 
as  a  member  of  said  hoard,  to  the  best  of  his  ahilitv,  which  oath 
shall  be  filed  in  the  office  of  the  county  clerk.  lie  shall  also, 
within  the  same  time,  file  a  bond  in  such  sum  as  may  be  fixed 
by  the  county  board,  which  bond  shall  he  filed  in  the  ofH< 


WISCONSIN    SCHOOL    LA\VS    OF    1903.  27 

the  c<  unty  clerk.  \Villiin  fifteen  days  after  the  appointment 
of  said  board,  the  members  thereof  shall  meet  and  organize  by 
electing  one  of  their  number  as  president  and  one  as  treasurer; 
the  county  superintendent  of  schools  shall  be  ex-officio  secretary 
of  the  said  hoard.  The  said  board  shall  prescribe  the  duties  of 
the  several  officers,  except  as  fixed  by  law. 

Honeys  for;  how  paid.  SECTION  3.  All  moneys  appropri- 
ated and  expended  under  the  provisions  of  this  act  shall  be  ex- 
pended by  the  county  training  school  board,  and  shall  be  paid 
hy  the  county  treasurer  on  orders  issued  by  said  board. 

Duty  of  state  superintendent.  SECTION  4.  The  state  super- 
intendent shall  give  such  information  and  assistance  as  may 
seem  necessary  in  organizing  and  maintaining  such  training 
school*.  He  shall  prescribe  the  courses  of  study  to  be  pursued, 
and  shall  determine  the  qualifications  of  all  teachers  employed 
in  such  schools.  He  shall  have  the  general  supervision  of  all 
schools  established  under  this  act;  shall  from  time  to  time  in- 
spect the  same,  make  such  recommendations  relating  to  their 
management  as  he  may  deem  necessary,  and  make  such  report 
thereon  as  shall  give  full  information  concerning  their  num- 
ber, character  and  efficiency. 

-  State  aid  for,  how  secured.  SECTION  5.  Any  school  estab- 
lished-under  the  provisions  of  this  act,  whose  courses  of  study 
and  the  qualifications  of  whose  teachers  have  been  approved  by 
the  state  superintendent;  may,  upon  application,  be  placed  upon 
an  approved  list  of  county  training  schools  for  teachers.  A 
school  once  entered  up;  n  such  list  may  remain  listed  and  he 
entitled  ti>  state  aid  so  Long  as  the  scope  and  charactn*  of  its 
work  are  maintained  in  such  manner  as  to  meet  the  approval 
of  the  state  superintendent;  provided,  that  he  shall  not  place 
upon  said  list  more  than  eight  schools.  On  the  first  day  of 
July  in  each  year  the  secretary  of  each  CQunty  training  school 

!  maintaining  a  school  on  the  approved  list,  shall  report 
to  the  state  superintendent  sotting  forth  the  facts  rel-?tii!->  to 
the  cost  of  maintaining  the  school,  the  character  of  the  work 
done,  the  number  and  names  of  teachers  employed  and  such 
other  matters  as  may  he  required.  Upon  the  receipt  of  such 

i,  if  it  shall  appear  that  the  school  lias  been  maintained 
in  a  satisfactory  manner  for  a  period  of  not  lo?s  than  ten 
months  during  the  year  closing  on  the  thirtieth  <b>y  of  the  pro- 


28  WISCONSIN    SCHOOL   LAvvS    OF    1903. 

ceding  June.,  the  said  superintendent  shall  make  a  certificate 
to  that  effect  and  file  it  with,  the  secretary  of  state.      Upon  re- 
ceiving such  certificates,  the  secretary  of  state  shall  draw  his 
warrant,  payable  to  the  treasurer  of  the  county  maintaining 
such  school,  a  sum  equal  to  one-half  the  amount  actually  ex 
pended  for  maintaining  such  school  during  the  year,  provide* 
that  the  total  amount  so  apportioned  shall  not  exceed  twenty 
five  hundred  dollars  in  any  one  school  year. 

Certificates  to  graduates;  effect  of.  SECTION  6.  Any  per 
son  who  shall  complete  in  a  satisfactory  manner  the  course  oJ 
study  prescribed  for  any  county  training  school,  and  who  shal 
be  of  good  moral  character,  shall  receive  a  certificate  signec 
by  the  principal  of  the  school  and  by  the  members  of  the 
county  training  school  board.  Said  certificate  shall  certify  that 
the  person  named  therein  has  satisfactorily  completed  the 
course  of  study  prescribed  for  the  county  training  school,  and 
is  of  good  moral  character;  it  shall  also  contain  a  list  of  the 
standings  secured  by  the  person  on  the  completion  of  each  of 
the  studies  pursued  in  the  school.  Such  certificate  shall  have 
the  force  and  effect  of  a  third  grade  certificate  issued  by  the 
county  superintendent  of  the  county  or  district  in  which  the 
school  id  located,  -for  the  term  of  three  years  from  the  date  of 
its  issue.  Any  school  superintendent  or  officer  authorized  to 
grant  certificates  to  teachers  in  Wisconsin  schools  is  hereby  au- 
thorized, in  his  discretion,  to  accept  standings  obtained  by  the 
completion  of  studies  in  any  county  training  school  in  the  state, 
when  duly  certified  by  the  principal  of  said  school,  in  lieu  of 
actual  examination  by  said  superintendent  or  examiner  at  any 
time  within  three  years  from  the  date  of  the  certificate  of  com- 
pletion of  the  course  by  the  person  desiring  to  have  such  stand- 
ings accepted.  This  provision  shall  apply  to  certificates  of 
third  and  second  grade. 

Joint  training  school  between  counties.  SECTION  7.  The 
county  board  of  two  or  more  adjoining  counties  may  unite  in 
establishing  and  maintaining  a  training  school  for  teachers  for 
the  purposes  and  on  the  same  general  plan  as  provided  for  in 
chapter  373,  laws  of  1901,  and  may  appropriate  money  for  its 
maintenance,  and  whenever  two  or  more  counties  unite  in  es- 
tablishing such  a  school,  the  county  superintendent  of  the 
county  in  which  the  schoolhouse  is  situated  shall  be  e^-ofEc 
secretary  of  the  board,  and  two  members  in  addition  shall  be 


WISCONSIN    SCHOOL   LAWS   OF    1903.  29 

11  from  each  county,  and  no  member  of  any  county  board 
"f  supervisors  shall  be  eligible. 

Cost  of  joint  training  school,  how  apportioned.  SECTION  8. 
Whenever  two  or  more  counties  unite  in  establishing  and 
maintaining  such  school,  the  county  school  board  provided  for 
in  such  cases  shall  determine  the  amount  of  money  necessary 
for  the  maintenance  and  equipment  of  the  school  for  the  next 
succeeding  year,  and  annually  thereafter.  They  shall  appor- 
tion the  amount  to  be  raised  by  taxation  among  the  counties 
in  proportion  to  the  assessed  valuation  of  the  real  and  per- 
sonal property  in  each  county  as  last  fixed  by  the  state 
Doard  of  assessment,  and  shall  report  to  the  county  clerk  of 
ach  county  on  or  before1  the  first  Monday  of  November  in 
each  year,  the  amount  of  the  apportionment  so  fixed,  and  such 
amount-  shall  be  levied  in  the  county  tax  of  each  county  for  the 
ensuing  year  for  the  support  of  the  school. 

Who  shall  be  treasurer  of;  money,  how  expended.     SECTION 
9.     The  county  treasurer  of  the  county  in  which  the  school 
!s  located   shall   be   ex-offiteio   treasurer  of  the   training   school 
ward    and    all    moneys    appropriated    and    expended    under. 
lie  provisions  of  this  act  shall  be  expended  by  the  board  of 
said  county  training  school  and  shall  be  paid  by  said  county 
rea surer  on  orders  drawn  by  the  secretary  and  countersigned 
y  the  president, 

Who  may  be  admitted.  SECTION  10.  The  board  of  any 
raining  school  for  teachers  established  under  this  law  in  a 
Dingle  county,  or  by  two  or  more  adjoining  counties,  shall  ad- 
nit  to  said  school,  whenever  the  facilities  provided  will  war- 
•ant  said  board  in  so  doin^,  any  person  prepared  to  enter  such 
school,  and  who  may  reside  in  any  county  but  not  within  the 
listrict  where  any  training  school  has  already  been  established. 
us  so  admitted  shall  be  entitled  to  the  same  privileges 
ind  subject  to  the  rules  of  the  board  adopted  for  the  govern- 
nent  of  such  school. 

Tuition  of  non-residents,  how  collected.  SECTION  11. 
iVhonever  any  person  not  residing  in  any  training  school  dis- 
riet  shall  become  a  student  in  any  training  school,  the  board 
•f  such  school  is  hereby  empowered  to  charge  a.  tuition  fee  for 
•rich  person  to  bo  fixed  by  a  majority  of  the  members  of  said 


30 


WISCONSIN    SCHOOL   LAWS    OF    L903. 


board  at   a   regular  m«etin»-  thereof.      'Jin-  county  U.ard   oi 
pervisors  of  the  county  of  which  -ndi  person  i>  a  In.na 
[dent,   is  hereby  jinthori/ed  and  empowered   to  provide  by 

D    ill,-    ]  roj  erty   of   the   county,    a    sum    snliicient    to 
tor  the   paynunt   of   ihe  tuition   on   account   of  the   resident* 
said  county,   win;   have  attended   -udi   teacher-'   training  -diool, 
und   the  amount-  80  levied  shall  be  collected   when   and   a.-  other 
taxes   are  collect.  «1.    and    -hall    be    paid    by    the   county    t 
of  said  county  to  the  cuinty  treasurer  of  the  county  in  which 
the  training  -dio..l  enrollinir  such   person    is  situated,   and 
amount  so  received    by   such    trea-nrer   shall    le    p.  tin- 

credit  of  the  teacher-'  training  sdiool  di.-trict. 

Appropriation.     SKCTIOX    l^.      There     i-     here! 
ated  out  of  any  money  in  the  trea-ury   not   otherwis 
ated,  a  sufficient  sum  t«»  carry  out  the  provisions  of  thi- 

This  chapter  clearly  explains  it-  purpose.      It 
two   more  county   training  school-   for  ;ded 

to  the  number  already   in  operation,  and   also  that    pen 
siding  in  counties  not  havinir  such   schools   may   attend    u 
payment  of  a  tuition  fee. 


Joint  high  school  districts,      ((liapn 

491,  Statutes  of  1898,  as  amended   hy   Section    1.  -I"  <'ha 
:.7  of  the  Laws  of  1899,  and  also  amending  section  492  of  the 
Statutes  of   189S. )      Si-<  TI«..\    !'.>!.     TSvo    or    more    adj<.i; 

1(i\V]|s    «,!•    >:-h<:nl     «li<tl'icls.    «   V    OH6    OT     HI'   1'e     to\VHS    or 

tricts  and   an    incnrpn rated   villa-*'  or  «  ity,   \vhen    tJ 
ii'ether  will  make  a   district   «;f  cnnti^mn^  territory,   ma 
in    establishing    and    maintaininii    anv  <uch  liiLdi    -••hM,,l. 
resolution  ]vn>]:nsino-  the  same  shall  be  apj  roved  and 
and  the  notice  of  election  -iirned  by   at    lea-t   a   maj«Tit\ 
supervisors  ot'  each    town,   the  din   Jtors   of  eacli    gchi 
the  fomnion  council  <  f  such  city  and   ti  -icli  vil! 

if  any,  and  the  election  shall  In-  notiti-.-d  and  conducted 
town,  school  district,  city  or  vi!h>^«-  BB  proyided   in  the  preced- 
ing section.      Such    resolution    shall    n«  t    be    adopited    unl« 
majority  of  the  votes   casl    in  each   <nch   town,   set 
city  or  village,  be  in    favor  thereof.      The 

~>'d  at  the  tir-t  election,  and  all  sub-concur  election-  in  the 
several  town.-  as  at  town  meeting,  in  the  several  -chool  di- 
tric'ts  as  at  annual  school  district  meeting,  in  the  city,  if  any. 


\VKSroXSlX    SCHOOL    LAWS    OF    190:'-.  31 

'   a  dinner  .  h  »tion,   and  in  tin-  village.,  if  any,  as  at  vil- 
ns;  and  the  supervisors  of  the  several  towns,  direct- 
aid  sdn.nl  districts  common  council  of  suck  city  and 
trustees  •>}'  such  village  shall,  within  one  week  after  sucli  elec- 
ti"n.  meet   and  canvass  the  votes  and  certify  the  result  to  the 
t<>un  cL  adi  t<>wn,  the  clerk  of  each  school  district,  the 

d«  rk  nf  such  city  and  to  the  village  clerk  of  such  village.     If 
n-olulinn  he  adopted,  the  town,  or  towns,  school  district 
6r  school   districts   and   city   and  village,  so  voting,   shall  con- 
ite  a    joint   high    -ehool    district.      '1  he    creation,  of  a  new 
town  or  iii'-.-rpurati,  n  ,,f  a  village  nut  of  the  territory  included 
in  ;i   free  liigli   school  district   shall  imt   dissolve  nor  otherwise 
idi    di-iriet  but   such    towns  or  town    and  village    shall 
tlui-  finite  a    joint     high    school    district.     A  town, 

school  district,   incorporated    village    or   city    contiguous   to  a 
high   -dio<d   di-tr'rt    may  l>ecome  je-int    with  such  district 
val   and   snl»!iii->i«.n    <>}'   a    resolution  proposing 
the  -aine  and  the  tcnn<  thereof,  and   notice  of  election  signed 
hy  a  maj"rif\  •  d'  the  siij  ervis  »rs  of  each  town,  directors  of  each 
ict,   e<  iniiiMii   <•  iimcil   of  each   city,   and   trustees  of 
village,  if  any,  to  he  atleete«l  and  the  adoption  of  such  reso- 
lutinn    l.y    a    niaj.  r'ty   <  i'  all    the  votes   casl    in   each   such  town, 
ict,  city  or  village,   the  election   to  he  had   and  the 
It  eanva— ed  and  de;< -nnined  in  the  manner  provided  herein 
fnr  the  organization  of  a  joint   high  sdioo-1  district  in  the  first 
instance. 

District  officers.  SK<  rio.x  I  ML!.  The  officers  of  each  such 
di-triet  -hall  he  a  director,  treasurer  and  dei'k,  whose  terms 
shall  1-e  eadi  tln-ee  year-  l.e^:nnin^  with  the  annual  town  meet- 
\]\'j:.  a-id  until  lii-  successor  -hall  have  been  chosen;  provided 
that  at  the  tir-t  election  the  elerk  -hall  he  chosen  for  one  year, 
the  treasurer  for  two  years  and  the  director  for  three  years, 
and  all  «-t'  -aid  officers  may  lie  chosen  first  at  the  same  election 
at  which  the  question  of  e-iahli-hin--  a  high  school  is  sub- 
mitted, to  take  their  oilier-  if  the  resolution  theref or  be  adopted. 
Thereafter  -udi  officers  sha.ll  be  elected  at  the  annual  town 
ting  or  charter  election.  The  votes  cast  shall  be  canvassed 
and  the  result  declared  and  rcrtiticd  as  provided  in  the  preced- 
ini:  sections.  Mnt  in  all  cities  not  under  a  county  superintend- 
ent which  now  constitute  free,  high  school  districts  or  which 
shall  hereafter  adnj>t  the  resolution  provided  for  in  section 
and  become  free  high  school  distrieis  the  board  of  educa- 
tion in  eaeh  -ndi  eitv  shall  be  the  high  school  board  and  the 


;;•>  WISCONSIN   SCHOOL   LAWS   OF    ll»(i:j. 

city  treasurer  >\i-<\\\  be  ex-ofticio  the  treasurer  of  the  high  school 
district  unless  the  board  of  education  embrace  a  treasurer;  and 
in  all  districts  maintaining  a  graded  school  of  not  less  than  two 
de|  artments  which  now  constitute  free  high  -clx.ol  di-trif- 
which  shall  hereafter  adopt  said  resolution,  the  district  board 
in  each  shall  be  the  high  school  board  and  the  district  trea-mvr 
shall  l>e  the  treasurer  of  the  high  school  district.  Whenever  a 
subdistrict  shall  vote  to  establish  and  maintain  a  free  high 
school,  such  sub-district  shall  constitute  a  free  high  school  di-- 
trict,  shall  elect  a  free  high  school  board,  the  clerk  for  on<-  year, 
the  treasurer  for  two  years,  and  the  director  for  three  ye; 
thereafter  one  officer  shall  be  elected  annually  in  place  of  the 
one  whose  term  expires  at  the  annual  meeting  of  such  sub- 
district.,  and  such  high  school  board  shall  ]x-rfnnii  all  the  du- 
ties and  have  the  same  authority  as  high  school  board-  in  to 
or  districts.  The  clerk  -hall  certify  all  taxes  levied  for  high 
school  purposes  to  the  town,  city  or  village  clerk,  who  -hall 
apportion  the  same  upon  the  taxable  property  of  the  sub-dis- 
trict, and  the  treasurers  of  -uch  municipality  -h-ili  collect  tin- 
taxes  thus  apportioned  and  pay  over  the  -aim  to  the  high  -chool 
treasurer  and  return  the  delinquent  taxes  to  tin-  county  b 
urer  as  in  other  cases.  Where  a  hi»h  school  district 
of  two  or  more  towns  or  school  d'-trici-,  or  oiie  or  moiv  to\vn- 
or  school  districts  and  an  incorpn-ated  village  or  city,  tin-  offi- 
cers thereof  shall  he  elected  for  the  -aim-  term-  a-  in  other  dis- 
tricts by  joint  vote  of  the  town  hoard-  of  auoh  towns  or  tho 
board  or  boards  of  the  school  district  or  dig  '«»wn  or 

lowns,  and  three,  members  selected   by  the  board  of  the  vil 
or  council  of  the  city  which  have  united   in    f<>rmimr  -uch   dis- 
trict     Such  town   board-  -hall  hold   th<-;r  lir-t   meet] 
officers  at  two  o'clock  P.  M.  on  the  fir-t   Tm-day  following  tlie 
town  meeting  ;•(   the  otlice  of  the  clerk  of  the  town  lia\ 
largest  population,  and   thereafter  shall   meet    for  -ueli    ]uir; 
at  the  same  -time    at   <ncli   place    as    may    be    deicrniined  upon. 
The  first  meetina1  of  flic  board  or  boards  of  a   town  or  town-  or 
a   s,.lin<.l   district   or  distri«-ts  with   the  member-  selected   bv  the 
board  of  anv  vill;"jc  or  council  of  anv  citv  which  forms  -m-h  a 
district   shall  beheld  at   two  o'clock   P.  "M".  on   tbe  ti-  -day 

next  followii>g  the  village  or  city  election  at  the  office  ,,f  tl^ 
clerk  of  such  village  or  city:  all  subsequent  meeting  -liall  be 
held  at  the  same  time  at  such  place  as  may  be  determined  ui 
A  majority  of  all  tho  member^  repn  Denting  -ucli  town  or  town-, 
school  district  or  district-  and  .-ucb  village  board  or  city  coun- 
cil shall  be  neees<ary  t«.  constitute  a  (piorum.  The  secretary 


WISCONSIN    SCHOOL   LAWS    OF    1903.  33 

of  tin1  meeting  of  such  boards  shall  certify  the  names  of  the 
officers  of  the  district  elected  thereat  to  all  the  clerks  of  the 
towns,  school  districts,  village  or  city  in  the  district.  The  of- 
ticer-  so  elected  shall  have  the  same  authority,  be  charged  with 
the  -aine  duties  and  be  under  the  same  liabilities  as  other  offi- 
oftre  of  Midi  districts. 

The  amendments  to  this  chapter  are  for  the  purpose  of  mak- 
ing clear  the  relations  existing  between  an  incorporated  village 
or  a  city  and  the  outlying  town  or  towns  in  cases  where  the 
free  h'^h  school  district  is  a  joini  school  district. 

To  prescribe  and  limit  the  duties  and  qualifications  of  city  su- 
perintendent of  schools  in  cities  of  the  third  class  (cities  having 
a  population  of  more  than  10,000  and  less  than  40,000)  and  to 
provide  for  his  appointment. — To  provide  for  the  proper  super- 
vision of  public  schools  in  cities  of  the  fourth  class  (cities  hav- 
ing a  population  of  10,000  or  less).  (Chapter  360.)  SECTION 
1.  In  all  chits  <>f  the  third  class  there  may  be  elected  an- 
nually l.y  the  school  board  <>r  the  board  of  school  commis- 
sion. !•-  a  city  -up;-rintcudent  of  schools  whose  duties  shall 
be:  1.  To  i  xainine  and  license  teachers  according  to  the 
Litea  •  f  l^'ls  and  law-  am<  ndalory  thereto  relating  to  the 

L*.  To  supervise  the  administration  of  the  courses  of 
Miidv.  •'!.  To  liavi  iM  neral  su|  crvision  of  the  professional 
\\.rk  <  f  the  schools  of  the  city  including  the  holding  of 
teachers'  meetings,  and  the  promotion  of  pupils..  4.  From 
time  tn  time  to  make  a  written  report  to  the  school  board  em- 
bodying such  re. -i  mmendat  ions  relative  to  the  employment  of 
teacher-,  jnlopi  ii.-n  •  f  t<  xi  bonks,  changes  in  the  course®  of 
study.  di-c:plh<e,  and  such  other  matters  as  he  may  deem  for 
the  welfare  nt'  the  city  schools.  5.  To  make  such  other  rer 

nd  to  ]  !-rf«  rm  snch  other  duties  as  the  school  board 
or  beard  nf  scln-nl  (-' MM m i  —  inners  iiuiv  direct  and  which  are 
not  in  conflict  with  the  provisions  of  this  act/  The  school  board 
or'ln.ard  of  sdn.<.l  commissioners  shall  determine  the  annual 
pensation  to  l;c  p-iid  sai«l  city  surx^rintendent  of  public 
schools  from  the  -chool  funds  of  said  city. 

Superintendent  not  to  engage  in  other  business.  SECTION  2. 
This  act  'hall  apply  tc  all  cities  of  the  third  and  fourth  class 

whether  --rd  chic-  are  «rnvenicd   bv  special  charters  or  by  the 
8 


;-j  WISCONSIN    SCHOOL    L\\\S    OF 

general   charter,   or   are   working    under  the   distric- 
election  ;m<l  iMiveninient  of  school  atl'aii-.      Elereafter,  no  < 
HIJ  erintendont  of  schools  -hall  engage  in  any  other  pro 
occupation   or    |»ur-nit.    I'm-  such    time   and    in    su«-li    manner 
shall  interfere  with  the  proper  di-chariie  of  his  dir  -m-h 

durinii   the  term   for  which  he   i-  !.      A   \  any 

of  the  provisions  of  tlr  n  shall  suhjeet   the  offender 

removal  from  "Ilice  ;  provided,  that  this  section  -hall  n<  t   h<-  C0H- 
striu-il    t«»   h:ir   any   city   sii]  lenl    of  >«-h- 

princij  al  <  \'  «  r  teaching  in  any  s<-liool  under  hi-  supervision. 

City  superintendent,  how  appointed;  school  board.     - 

3.      In  all  cities  of  the  third  and    fourth   e!a—   where   the 

sup<T:ntend<  nt   «  f  8ch(  -  1-  at   th.  1   «»r  i\\>- 

jM.inted,   in  some  otlier   ma  !y    than 

the  school  board  or  board 

shall    cease    i«>   exisl    at    the   expirati.  n    «.f    the    I  r    which 

the    present    incuinhent   was  elected,    and    the  duti<  i»n- 

seribed  fcr  hi>  office  shall  1  by  the  s«-h.  ..1  ].u;ird 

or  bo-anl  <-f  school  eoinmi-sioners  ;i-  f«»lli'\v- :    1.    The  ilntie-  cnn- 

merated     in  <ection     1   of  thi-  act,,    f«»niMM'ly    d.  on   -aid 

city    superintendent,  shall    l.-e  a  — iinn-il    l»y    the    su] 

ejected   nr   t<>   bi(B   elected    hy    the   -eliool    Ix.Mn!  :i-<.l 

comiuissioner< :    it'    ii"    city    -uj   •i-intenden1 

clin-en  in  cities  of  the  third  class,  and  in  all  eitii  irth 

class,  the  hiuh  <chool  pi'inci]  .il  <\\:\\\  a--nnu'  and  di-  -aid 

duties.       In  thi'-e  cities  within  whose  limits  there  -hall 

than  one  liijjli  school,  the  h-cinl  of  edn«-. 

(M»nimi-si«  ner-  shall  designate  which  j-rincipal  >liall  an«l 

execute    <llch    <llltie-.        '2.     The    school    l<»;ird  li'x.l 

(innimis-:.  oerfi  -hall   annually  c!  :    tin  ir  «i\vn   nun 

chairman.      •'».    Said     !<>;ird     sliall   elect 

their  own  number,    or    imt,   to    j-erform   the    (derical    duti* 

tlie  heard   at   such   eonip-n--it  ion   ,-is   they   may   name.      The 

superintendent   <  f  scho,,l<  chosen   by  the  -cho.,1   Ix.jird   or  hoard 

of  -ch.-ol  eonimi>-i«-ner-  -hall   it 

the  school  l.-.-j'.rd,  nor  shall  lie  l-e  ]•;•«  -ident   or  i-liairman  "t   -aid 

board. 

Eligibility,  qualifications  required.     S  1.      N"o  ] 

shall  1  c  eli.L'iMe  to  the  oilire  of  city   superintendent 
Avhese  le'jal   (!ualiticatioii<   are  not   e<|iiivalent    to  tho-e   ro.jn 
for  the  ]-rincij  alsliip  of  ;i  four  year-  lii^li  school. 


WISCONSIN    SCHOOL   LAWS    OF    1903.  35 

This  chapter  |  tescribes  certain  educati<  ual  qu:>lineat:ons 
whi<  h  city  -  !s  mus!_  before  they 

oli-i!  le  to  the  office.     Jt  also  prescribes  the  duties 
rintendents  ami  the  manner  of  their  election.     It 
does  nol  :   ilia;   it  was  tlic  intention  of  this  chapter  to  ar- 

bitrarily  place  the  cities  of  the  fourih  class  under  the  super- 
vision   of   eity    superintendents    and   withdraw    the   said  cities 
from    ili«    jurisdiction   of  the  county   superintendents.     It  ap- 
hat   ihi<    chapter    was    intended    to    apply  only  to  such 
citiee  as  were  alp-ady  under  the  supervision  of  a  city  superin- 
or  -iidi  cities  as   may  hereafter, -through  proper  pro~ 
luntarily  withdraw  from  the  jurisdiction  of  county 
intendents  and  p.lace  city  superintendents  in  authority. 

Taxation  in  counties,  towns  and  school  districts.  (Chapter 
t39,  aiiu-ndini;1  Section  H'Tl.  Sulndivision  1,  of  S'Cction  776, 
:md  als<  -  n  7:;<»a.  Statutes  of  1808.)  SECTION  1074. 

The  <  nniy  l.-.ard  shall  aUo,  al  said  nieeliiiii',  determine  by  res- 
nlu?:«.ii  the  amount  of  taxes  to  l>e  levied  in  their  county  for 
county  |uirp«.-(-  iVr  ilu-  year,  and  a!s-i  the  amount  to  be  raised 
hy  tax  in  <  adi  t.»wii  t'«:r  the  sup. port  of  cominon  schools  therein 
tor  the  eii-uin^  year,  which  shall  not  in  any  town  he  less  than 
the  am-  tint  ap.port  i«.m-d  to  -uch  town  in  the  last  apportionment 

be  income  <  !'  the  school  fund;  and  by  separate  resolution, 
a»l"i  majority  ..!'  tin  memhers  of  the  board  not  prohib- 

ited lVi-m  voting  thei'e.'ii  1-y  section  TO-"),  determine  the  amount 
levied  to  j--ay  the  ciimps'iisMtimi  and  allowances  of 
tin-  <•  unity  superintendents  <•!'  >cho«;l>  and  <lesii:-nate  therein 
the  cities  exempt  from  t.ixan.n  th<-efor;  provided,  however, 
that  the  total  amount  of  county  taxes  assessed,  levied  and  car- 
rii-d  «  ill  a-jain-t  the  taxable  property  of  any  county  in  any  one 
-hall  i  d  in  the  whole  one-half  of  one  per  centum 

of  the  1  I  valuation  of  said  county  for  the  preced- 

ing year  as  tixed  hy  the  state  hoard  of  equalization,  except- 

in  so  far  a-  a  larger  percentage  may  he  necessary  in  order 
to  IIM  -  i  indehtedne--  inc!'.rred  prior  to  the  pas<aire  and  publica- 
tion of  ihi-  act. 

Roads  and  bridges.  1.  To  vote  to  raise  money  for  the  repair 
and  huildin-  of  roads  or  b ridges,  or  either;  for  the  support  of 


-;,;  \VIS<  oCIIOOL      L\\YS     OK      1903, 

llic   |)iM»r  and    defraying  nil   other  ehar«M--   ;in<l   ex] 
town:    provided,    however,   that,    tin-   total     taxe<    levied    in   any 
town  for  jiny  one  year  for  all  town  pur]x*e-.  exclusive  - 
taxefl  ;iml   liabilities  heretofore  lawfully   incurred,  -hall   n<> 
ceed  in   the  whole,  one  and  one-halt'   j 

assessed  valuation  ,  f  >ueh  town  for  the  preivdii:L  .ual- 

ized  by  'he  town  l».ard  of  equalization,  unle-s  a   larger  sui 
needed  for  the  building  or  repairing   <•!'  hi-h 
in  which  case  the  electors  may  vote  and  the  projvr  author 
may   levy,   not    b  :"'    1  '•'''  '•'•ntuni    in    addi- 

tion to  the  aforesaid  one  and  one-half  per  centum:   j. P. \idrd, 
further,    that   not   cx'-c.  din--   one    per    centum    additional    may 
be  levied  for  school  puqx>ses  when  under  the  t<  wn-hi| 
of  school  government 

Limitation  of  taxes.     SECTION    i:;nM.     'I'h.-  total  atnoui 
school   di>trict    tax    hereafter    Icvi.  d    in    any    -ch.^1    di>t!'i<-f    in 
\]\i<  -tatc   in   any  one  year   f«»r  building,    hirinir  «>r   pur«-ha- 
any  school  huildini:,  and  for  the  maintrnan<-c  •  f  schools,  indud- 
iiii:1  tcadiers'   \v:i»-c<   and    incidental    expt-n^-s,    shall    n<-- 
two  per  cent  of  the  total   assessed    valuation   of  taxable   prop- 
erty  in  -nch   -dinol   district    for  th<-   pn-cedin»-  year. 

'\'}\':<  chaj  ter  iiives  the  amount   which   may   be   le\  i.-d   by   the 
county  board  of  supervisors,  the  eleetoj^  at   annual  town  n. 
inu-,   and   the  elector-   at    -<-ho«.l   district    meet  ini:-.      Thi-  «-ha|>- 
ter  should  1  e  <-arefull\   -tudied  in  ,:rder  that  tin- 
tors  may   m;t    he   declared    void.      The   school    distric  pro- 
hibited from  raising  an  amount   to  exceed  two  per  cenl.  ot 
total   a«es<ed    valuation   of   the   taxable    pr«  jx'rty    in    the   ^-h«M»l 
district  for  purposes  of  Imildini:,  hirin--  or  pnn-ha-in^  a  build- 
in. i;1  and   maintaining  the  >eh<.:  1,  and  when   under  t<  \\n-hii- 
tern  of  <choo]  government  are  limi'ed  to  one  per  «•«  nt.  «  t'  th 
valuation  of  the  town. 


INDEX. 


ACTIONS—  PAGE 

to  be  brought  by  chairman  or  director  of  board  of  education  *    14 

to  be  brought  by  city  superintendent 14 

to  be  brought  by  truant  officer 14 

to  be  brought  under  compulsory  education  law 14 

ADMISSION— 

of  non-resident  pupils  to  county  training  school  for  teachers  29 

of  non-residents  to  free  high  school 22 

APPOINTMENT— 

of  city  superintendent 34 

of  truant  officers 14 

ATTENDANCE    AT   SCHOOL 12-14 

CERTIFICATES— 

branches  required  5 

(1  u  ration  of  5-6 

for  primary  teachers 17 

limitations 5-6 

manual  training,  domestic  science 6 

CITY  S!  PERINTENDENT  OF  SCHOOLS— 

duties  of   33 

eligibility — qualifications   required    34 

ho\v  appointed   34 

not  to  engage  in  other  business 33-34 

COMMON  SCHOOL  FUND— 

apportionment  of   20 

how  apportioned   20 

section  554  amended   .                                                20 


COMPENSATION— 

of  city  superintendents 

of  county  superintendents   

of  truant  officers  .  1* 


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